Air-heater for automobile-engines



APPLICATION FILED FEB.2, 1920.

Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

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WITNESS:

A TTORNE I PATENT OFFICE.

OTIS W. MOORE, 0F ALLERTON, ILLINOIS.

AIR-HEATER FOR AUTOMOBILE-ENGINES.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

Application led February 2, 1920. Serial No. 355,638.

To all 'wlw/m it may concern.'

Be it known that I, Oris W. MOORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allerton, in the county of Vermilion and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air-Heaters for Automobile-Engines; and I do hereby declare the followin to be a full, clear, and exact description o the invention, suchas will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to a device designed for use with automobile hydrocarbon engines for supplying heated air to the carbureter in order to facilitate starting in cold weather, and it is the object of the invention to provide a novel and improved attachment of that character which is eX- ceedingly simple and inexpensive. in construction, which can be readily installed, and which will operate in a simple and eifective manner.

With the foregoing and other objects'in view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes can be made within the scope of what is claimedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing` wherein Figure 1 is a diagrammatical view showing the air heater connected to the. carbureter, portions being shown in elevation and others in section.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail of the means for mounting the heating unit in the air chamber.

In the drawing, there is illustrated a conventional carbureter l supplying the intake manifold 2 of the engine with carbureted air, and provided with a choke valve 3 in the air inlet port 4, which is operable as usual for choking the entrance of air to increase the vacuum within the carbureter and increasing the flow of gasolene or other fuel.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided an air .chamber 5 of any suitable size, which is provided with heat insulation to prevent the loss of heat units, and a tube 6 leads from the top of the chamber 5 and is connected to the carbureter 1 at the inner side ofthe choke valve 3, whereby the heated air will How from the upper portion of the chamber 5 through said tube into the cham bei' of the carbureter, when the tube 5 is opened. Said tube is also preferably insulated to prevent the escape of heat and has a shut off valve 7 which can be controlled from the dash of the automobile or other suitable point.

Aheating unit 8 is provided within the chamber 5 or heating the air therein, and,

as shown, the heating unit is an electric lamp' although any other suitable heating unit or resistance element can be used. In the embodiment shown, the lamp 8 constitutes a convenient removable heating unit and will Serve the purpose nicely. As shown, a lamp 8 is fitted within a lamp socket 9 carried by a removable plug lO in the bottom of the chamber 5, whereby the plug can be removed for removing the lamp from the casing to replace the lamp when burnt out. The lam is disposed in an electrical circuit 10 including the battery 12 or other source of electrical energy, and a controlling switch 13. This switch is used for closing the circuit to energize the lamp or heating unit 8, when heated air is to be supplied to the carbureter. The casing or chamber 5 has an air inlet for the entrance of fresh air, and, as shown, this air inlet port 14 extends through the plug 10 so that the air in entering will flow past the heating unit.

The device is Vespecially useful in cold weather when the carbureter does not function eiiiciently, due to poor carburetion. In using the device, the switch 13 is closed to energize the heating unit 8, and the 'valve 7 is closed, whereby the air within the chamber 5 will be heated. Then, after a few moments, the engine is started in the usual way, and the choke valve 3 is closed and the valve 7 opened, so that the heated air will pass from the chamber 5 through the tube 6 into the carbureter. This will heat ,the carbureter and gasolene, so that the gasolene will vaporize and pass with the air through the intake manifold, resulting in the engine starting quickly. The chamber 5 can be of suilicient size to hold considerable quantity of heated air, so as to assure of the' starting of the engine even in extremel cold weather, and the switch 13 can be le t closed and the valve 7 left open until the engine is running perfectly'. The valve 7 is then closed, and the switch 18 opened so that the carbureter will function in the ordinary Way.

The device is intended particularly for supplying heated air' to a carbureter, but can be used-similarly for other purposes.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. The combination with an engine carbureter having a choke valve in the air inlet port, of a device for supplying heated air in starting the engine comprising an 'air chamber for holdin a quantity of air to be sup lied to the car ureter, a delivery tube lea ing from said chamber for conducting the air therefrom and connected to the car-A bureter at the inner side of said choke Valve, a valve for said tube to establish and shut oft' the iiow of air from said chamber to the carburetor at will, and an electrical heating unit in said chamber for heating. the air therein before passing through said tube to the carbureter.

2. An air heater of the character described to be used with an engine carbureter, comprisin an air chamber for holding a quantity o air to be delivered to the carburetor, an air delivery tube leading from said chamber for conducting the air therefrom and adapted for connection with the carbureter to supply the air thereto independent of the main air supply of the carbureter, a valve for said tube to control the iow of air from said chamber at will, and an electrical heating unit in said chamber for heating the air before beingdelivered through said tube.

3. An air heater of the character described comprising an air chamber, an air delivery tube leading from the upper portion thereof, and having a valve, a removable plug in the bottom of the casing,.and an electrical heating unit mounted on said plu and removable therewith from the cham er, said plug havlng an air inlet port.

ln testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OTIS `W. MOORE.

Witnesses:

BARTON M. PARISH, L.'R. Moolm. 

